A snake is growing along the waterfront in Fort Frances.
It is made up of stones painted by community members.
Jolene Richert, a member of the rock painting group Fort Frances Rocks, says the idea came to several people who saw an online post.
“There were a few other communities that have done something similar, and I thought, you know what? Our town needs something positive, something fun to do. So, I kept thinking how neat that would work since we have such a beautiful waterfront that would work along there,” says Richert.
Richert laid the first stone, a snake’s head, on July 1.
“This was the first rock I’ve ever painted, and it was like a ginormous boulder, so it was a learning curve for me.”
A line of hand-painted rocks sits along the Fort Frances waterfront, July 2023. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting
A couple of hundred hand-painted rocks have been added by others since.
She invites others to take part.
“We’re hoping it’ll get groups wanting to add to it. Anybody’s welcome to add to it. Any size rock is fine. We’re hoping that maybe daycares, one of the summer programs at the Friendship Centre, they’re going to be adding to it. We thought maybe even the activation group at the hospital or Rainycrest. Just something for anybody who wants to take part in it.”
The rocks are lined up along the waterfront’s sidewalk, starting at Point Park.
Richert says it is to permit town crews to cut the grass without having to maneuver around the rocks.
She would like to see it will stretch the entire length of the waterfront.
“And who knows? If it made it to the hospital super early, I could go and switch the head, and we could start going the other way along the point. So just kind of a fun thing to see how long? And I’m hoping it’ll get people out. Let’s go for a walk and see how long the snake is getting.”
A line of hand-painted rocks sits along the Fort Frances waterfront, July 2023. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting
